The Emerald Isle
Last month, I had the privilege to travel to Indonesia and experience a place that boasts so much beauty: her wild jungles, her fiery sunsets, her sparkling oceans, towering waterfalls, and impressive coastlines… her servant hearted people, her fascinating culture, and incredible food. I have fallen madly in love with the islands and my week on the other side of the world brought me unfathomable and unexpected blessings.
I ended up staying a week in Bali, Nusa Penida, and the Gili Islands.
There was nothing to distract or detract from the innate, wild beauty- nature was highlighted so intentionally, and I was absolutely tantalized by every sight I saw. It sparked my thirst for chasing the duality of crazy adventure while also appreciating a simple existence.
Waking up every day with an eagerness to explore and just dive in and experience, was so fulfilling. The islands felt like a creative playground to me, as everywhere I looked I was surrounded by inspiration and an immediate invitation to go and make and do. The islands also in a strange way, felt like home to me. I felt connected instantly and intimately. It didn’t necessarily feel familiar, but rather provided a unique sense of peace and comfort… a lesson in returning to the basics and satisfying the simple longings of my heart: being immersed in nature 24/7, appreciating slow moments with community, and expressing gratitude to the Lord for all His beauty.
One moment I go back to often, was on a small island in the Indian Ocean called Gili Meno… an island only traversed by foot or bike, no cars allowed. One night we’d gone outside our bungalow to ride to dinner, so we mounted our bright yellow bikes, and navigated our way in the pitch black darkness of night, through palm tree groves, balancing flashlights in one hand and steering around sand pits with the other. As we all raced along, I leaned my head back to look up, and as I did, I was greeted by the most magnificent display of stars. I paused to just marvel at the sight.
Without light pollution from cars or any streetlights, the island was engulfed in darkness, but the sky was truly aglow. As I gazed up and out, my eyes reflected the stars’ glimmer and began to crease at the edges as I grinned up at their light. I was able to pick out constellations I knew well, and even recognized how they were flipped; Orion’s belt was reversed in it’s direction, and I had forgotten until that moment, that the opposite hemisphere would indeed cause stars near the celestial equator to appear upside down and reversed. Despite this difference, I still considered with great comfort and gratitude how even a world away, we’re always looking at the same sky.
When we finally reached our dinner spot we were met with fire dancers and spent the rest of our night listening to locals’ stories and watching them spearfish and bring up bioluminescence flashing their neon blue lights. Truly a page out of a storybook.
During the rest of our days island hopping, we made memories walking barefoot and carrying duffels and backpacks down the streets trying to find our hostels but also living some nights lavishly in magical airbnbs. It’s all about balance. But regardless of our situation and what we were doing, our days were all filled with such deep joy that I hadn’t encountered in a long time. As I found myself often leaning my head back to laugh deeply and authentically, I remembered what it felt like to feel so wholly present and fully alive. Seeing more of the world really means seeing more of God- seeing Him in all the people we meet and places we traverse. It draws me right back to His creativity, His goodness, His power, His love, His generosity, and to seeing how connected we all are.
The locals in Bali showed me immeasurable kindness, and I have truly never met people with such gentle, giving spirits. I learned the biggest lesson in packing lightly and trusting that I would be taken care of, as some days we really only got around by the mere generosity and eagerness of the local people to help us navigate from one town to the next. The local people always provided so much for us and showed us the way with overflowing hearts of joy. Listening to their stories and seeing their customs and ways of life in action, was the greatest privilege.
After a trip like this I cannot return to life as it was before- I have changed, and thankfully so. I mean, how could I fly 10,000 miles and not be? It’s with bittersweet nostalgia that I think about Indonesia and how I will live my life influenced by what I saw, what I heard, what I tasted, what I felt, and all I learned. I think one of the most curious takeaways is in the mental clarity I felt thousands of miles away. There was such minimal outside noise, less things demanding my attention, and I was able to exist in my own head without any one else’s voice dominating. With so much clarity and room to think in this peaceful place, I could for the first time in awhile, hear my own voice but most importantly really hear the Lord’s. Slowing down and prioritizing reflection as well as just existing so simply in His boundless Creation gave me new perspective and shifted my focus. I still feel so clear, so free, so focused, so engaged, so vibrant. Back in the states, my every day looks a little different for sure, but prioritizing gratitude, sunshine, moving my body, meditation on God’s Word, and approaching everything with childlike joy and eagerness has been impactful already. I am so immensely thankful for the memories and lessons I will always keep with me from my week at the equator. I could write about my fairytale existence in Indonesia forever, and I wish I could somehow fully convey how it felt to exist over there… but I suppose that’s meant to stay my own enchanted treasure.
Bali, I am so grateful for your paradise. I am enamored by your ways and I wistfully await our reunion.
